Azalea plant named ‘RLH1-5P1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘RLH1-5P1’, characterized by its compact, upright to low spreading and mounding plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; evergreen, persistent dark green-colored leaves that do not abscise during the winter; freely flowering habit with remontant flowering during the spring, summer and autumn; large, non-persistent semi-double flowers that are light red purple in color with darker red purple-colored central spots and speckles; excellent garden performance and temperature tolerance.

Botanical designation: Rhododendron hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RLH1-5P1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant, botanically known as Rhododendron hybrida, commercially referred to as an evergreen Azalea plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RLH1-5P1’.

The new Azalea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact evergreen Azalea plants having dense growth habit, large attractive flowers, flowers with good temperature tolerance, consistent remontant flowering during the spring, summer and autumn, good garden performance and low and high temperature tolerance.

The new Azalea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in 1996 in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C., of a proprietary selection of Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number HO-4-OL, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1800-WS, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Azalea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. in 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Azalea plant by semi-hardwood stem cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. since 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Azalea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Azalea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RLH1-5P1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RLH1-5P1’ as a new and distinct Azalea plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to low spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy appearance;         vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Evergreen, persistent dark green-colored leaves that do not         abscise during the winter.     -   4. Freely flowering habit with remontant flowering during the         spring, summer and autumn.     -   5. Large, non-persistent semi-double flowers that are light red         purple in color with darker red purple-colored central spots and         speckles.     -   6. Excellent garden performance and temperature tolerance.

Plants of the new Azalea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea are more low spreading and mounding         than and not as upright and globose as plants of the female         parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea are more freely basal branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Azalea and the female parent selection         differ slightly in flower color.

Plants of the new Azalea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea are more low spreading and mounding         than and not as upright and globose as plants of the male parent         selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea have semi-double flowers whereas         plants of the male parent selection have single flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Azalea and the male parent selection differ         in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have         salmon pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Azalea can be compared to the plants of ‘Robleg’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,227. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C., plants of the new Azalea differed primarily from plants of ‘Robleg’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea were more uniform in plant shape and         required less pruning to maintain a more uniform shape than         plants of ‘Robleg’.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Robleg’.     -   3. Plants of the new Azalea had semi-double flowers whereas         plants of ‘Robleg’ had single flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Azalea and ‘Robleg’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Robleg’ had white-colored flowers.     -   5. Plants of the new Azalea flowered during the spring, summer         and autumn whereas plants of ‘Robleg’ only flowered during the         spring and autumn.     -   6. Plants of the new Azalea were more cold hardy than plants of         ‘Robleg’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Azalea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Azalea plant. Plants used for the photographs were grown during the late summer in five-gallon containers in a shady outdoor nursery in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. and under cultural practices which approximate commercial Azalea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 0° C. to 45° C. and night temperatures ranged from −17° C. to 38° C. Plants were five years old when the photographs were taken.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RLH1-5P1’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RLH1-5P1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer in three-gallon containers in a shadehouse in El Campo, Tex. and under cultural practices which approximate commercial Azalea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were one year old when the detailed description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrida ‘RLH1-5P1’. -   Commercial classification: Evergreen Azalea. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number HO-4-OL, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1800-WS,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 25 to 30 days at             temperatures of 27° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 35 to 45 days at             temperatures of 16° C. to 17° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 to 70             days at temperatures of 27° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 80 to             100 days at temperatures of 16° C. to 17° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             becoming light brown with development.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form, plant and growth habit.—Perennial and evergreen             flowering subshrub; compact, upright to low spreading and             mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth             rate; freely flowering habit with numerous semi-double             flowers.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches developing potentially at every node; dense and             bushy appearance; pinching (removal of terminal apex)             enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 27 cm.         -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 45 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 15.5 cm. Diameter             at base: About 3 mm. Internode length, at fully-developed             upper leaf axils: About 1.1 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Upright to outwardly. Texture, developing: Pubescent, fine             greyed orange-colored hairs. Texture, mature: Woody;             pubescent, fine greyed orange-colored hairs. Color,             developing: Close to between 144A and 146B. Color,             semi-hardwood: Close to 144A becoming close to 165A with             development. Color, mature: Close to 165A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Leaf             retention: Very good winter leaf retention has been observed             on plants of the new Azalea. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width:             About 1.8 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate to elliptic. Apex: Acute;             mucronulate. Base: Cuneate to attenuate. Margin: Entire;             ciliate. Venation pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; coriaceous, tough.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than between             N137A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;             venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 144A to 144B.             Petioles: Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A             to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, April to May, and then             remontant flowering during the summer and autumn, July to             October or until frost in USDA Hardiness Zone 6.         -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double             campanulate-shaped flowers arranged upwardly to outwardly in             clusters at terminals and sub-terminals; outer whorl of five             petals and inner whorl with five to eight staminate             petaloids.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with usually about             one to three flower buds and three flowers per cluster.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers are durable and long-lasting;             depending on the temperature, flowers last about one week on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.75 cm.         -   Flower buds (before showing color).—Length: About 1.3 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals, outer whorl.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About             2.2 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to orbicular, roughly             spatulate. Apex: Rotund; undulate. Margin: Entire; undulate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             rugulose; waxy to velvety in appearance; lower surface             occasionally pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 61D; central spots and speckles, close to 60B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 61D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 61D; spots and speckles, close to 60B.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 61D.         -   Petaloids, inner whorl.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About             1.8 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to orbicular, roughly             spatulate. Apex: Rotund; undulate. Margin: Entire; undulate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             rugulose; waxy to velvety in appearance. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 61D, central spots and             speckles, close to 60B. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 61D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 61D; spots and             speckles, close to 60B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 61D.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five in a single whorl, fused at the             base forming a campanulate to star-shaped corona. Length:             About 7 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; ciliate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Angle: Mostly upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A tinged with close             to 53A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per             flower: None to about ten. Filament length: About 3.1 cm.             Filament color: Close to 61B. Anther shape: Porandrous with             four oblong, tubular to lunate-shaped pollen sacks basifixed             to the filament. Anther length: About 2.75 mm. Anther color:             Close to N186C. Pollen amount: None. Gynoecium: Pistil             length: About 3.9 cm. Stigma shape: Round to flattened             (capitate). Stigma color: Close to 59A. Style length: About             3.5 cm. Style color: Close to 53A and 60B. Ovary color:             Close to 144A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Azalea. -   Garden performance & temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Azalea     have been observed to be very tolerant to rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −25° C. to about 45° C.; and plants     of the new Azalea are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 9. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Azalea plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘RLH1-5P1’ as illustrated and described. 